Show versus Tell

[Narnian Prince]

It was bad enough that the woman had pretty much taken over the entire wedding but, when she burst into the bridal suite without knocking, Rolph felt he had cause to curse his new bride's mother.

Tell: The wedding night got ugly.

[Mark H]

They sat on the bed and Rolf reached across and lifted his new wife's veil to reveal a face like a baboon's arse. Thankfully he was drunk enough not to care. "You're lovely ... hic ... I really fancy you," he said as he stroked her hairy chin.

Tell: William hated apples.

[Narnian Prince]

Although he was determined to lose at least half his weight of 30 stone, William despised the diet of fruit and vegetables that the dietician had put him on.  Particularly hsi loathing of apples.

Tell: the poker game lasted too long.

[Mark H]

Rolf's incontinence pants were full to bursting point but he was certain that if he kept playing his luck was sure to turn.

Tell: Gyppo missed his long dead ferret Horace.

[Narnian Prince]

Despite the months that had gone by, Gyppo remained inconsolable as he mourned the loss of Horace, his ferocious ferret, who had been rightfully exterminated for biting young children.

Tell: Ronald could not believe his luck.

[Mark H]

Ronald put on a suitably neutral expression when Mrs Ronald told him that her mother was moving to Alaska.

Tell: Alaska is cold.

[Spell Chick]

The glaciers moved down the mountains, surrounding Juneau - the only state capital with this problem.

The Amazon is hot.

[thatollie]

The thin blankets stuck to Pete's skin, "why is he even dragging us on this expedition?"

Tell: Cathy downed her Southern Comfort.

[Mark H]

Cathy sat slumped on the floor in the corner of the barroom. In her right hand she held a bottle of Southern Comfort. She stared at Gyppo, wide eyed, fascinated by all the hair. Without taking her eyes off his face, she slowly lifted the bottle to her lips and took a large gulp. She swallowed, belched loudly and then began to giggle.

Tell: Gyppo's goat was unconcerned by Cathy's behaiour

[Amie]

Show:  Gyppo's goat inspected its hooves for dirt as Cathy cavorted in front of it.

Tell:  Sattie was feeling despondent that so many of the tells were in fact shows.  She thought, "At this rate, it would take 500 pages just to set the scene in the average novel".  She was grateful that the "tell" she responded to was a genuine tell, and not one of these, "Gladys played with the telephone cord" type tells (which is in fact a show).

[Mark H]

Sattie strode into the MWC office in her highly polished thigh length boots. She loudly thwacked a copy of 'vogue' against Banarnian Prince's head just to get everyones attention. "Tell! Tell you dimwits. Now get a grip or I'll have you all flogged," she shrieked. She turned and stormed out.

"Who the hell was that?" asked thatollie.

"No idea," said Citabria, "but she's given me a boner."

Tell: Sir Nigel felt smug.

[Gyppo]

It was so unfair, mused Smug the orphaned duck-billed platypus.  Every night was a torment for him as he heard the boots ring along the corridor outside his cage and then stop.  Everyone thought Sir Nigel was a saint for adopting him, but ever night, after a through groping from the errant Lord, he wept himself to sleep and dreamed of the good old days with Rolf Harris when they both ganged up on the securely bound kangaroo.

Tell.  Citabra is a clown.

[Mark H]

"Life's so unfair," moaned Citabria. "I have to wear these great big shoes and these stupid trousers with the hoop in the waistband. And every sodding morning I get half way to work and the bloody car falls apart."

"Yes dear," said Mrs C as she threw a custard pie at him.

Tell: thatollie was fond of his single chopstick.

[Spell Chick]

Thatollie carressed the oversized toothpick. He gazed longingly at the length of polished wood. And then he picked up a fork and ate his Eggs Foo Yung.

Writers are odd.

[Mark H]

SPChick sat at her desk typing her latest novel. After she had written ten words she stood, pirouetted to the right 3 times, then sat down and continued. After the next ten words she stood, pirouetted to the left 5 times, then sat down and continued. When she completed a full chapter she celebrated by dancing the fandango with her pet slug Dave.

Tell: Slugs make good dance partners (allegedly).